RIP Herbie Flowers. The foundational heart of so many great recordings.

I was thinking about Scott Walker yesterday, and how his career was brought back to prominence, at least in part, by high-profile artists who he influenced. And there was that BBC concert of various artists performing [mostly terrible, admittedly] cover versions of his work. I wonder if, like Scott Walker, Bill Nelson might be considered an artist's artist. Many, many high-profile singers and performers have cited him as an influence. Would it be a good thing if they were to band together and do some kind of celebration concert...or are such things inevitably a bit embarrassing? What say you?

From stealing to Spotify: the story behind how music got free | Documentary | The Guardian

Did you read that Public Image Ltd were considered for representing Ireland in this years Eurovision Song Contest? I really did laugh out loud. I had to check out their song. And when I heard it, I stopped laughing. John Lydon is now carer for his wife who is badly affected by dementia; this song is about that. Brought a lump to my throat. Link... Hawaii - YouTube

I was pleasantly surprised to read Bill mentioned a couple of times in Steve Jones's autobiography. I'd assumed BBD and Bill might have been a bit too refined for a Sex Pistol's taste. "For music-lovers of taste and discernment, it was becoming more of a struggle to keep up standards by 1974. There was still some great stuff about; you just had to look a bit harder for it. The first Be-Bop Deluxe album, Axe Victim, and Sparks’ Kimono My House were both big albums for me and Cookie [Paul Cook, drummer] – we’d sit in his bedroom for hours listening to them." "There was stuff around for us to bounce off, like Futurama, the second Be-Bop Deluxe album, a big favourite with both me and Cookie by then. Bill Nelson was a great guitarist who really had the Bowie look down when we saw him live at the Fulham Greyhound." * OK, wide of the mark about the Bowie look, but definitely a favourite.

Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy 2022, full of creativity and positive thinking.

Linked from the BBC below. If I could get there to see it, I definitely would. Posted in case anyone else is interested. The 'heartbreakingly beautiful' art of Laurie Anderson - BBC News

At one point, in the UK at least, it seemed that style mattered far more than substance for successful bands and artists. But in 2021, in the online age, I wonder whether it's still true. It was a BBC article about a band from Wigan with a chart-topping album that prompted my question. Now, there was a time when someone like this--without a carefully contrived, fashion-friendly 'image'--would have stood little chance in the charts. Any thoughts? The Lathums: Wigan indie band score debut number one album - BBC News

Ben Elliot: Conservative Party money man with A-list connections - BBC News

Benefit death reviews 'shrouded in secrecy' - BBC News

Poor old Hancock. With the help of the media, how long until it's his turn to be flushed away with the scum of the government's collective wrongdoings clinging to him like a wad of unflushable wipes?

Following a wave of verified footage made public, a pentagon report into UAPs [unidentified aerial phenomena] is due this month. Many think it will be a request for more time to study things. But the fact that it's happening is something in itself. As is the topic featuring on 60 Minutes [link below]. Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs - YouTube

I'm just curious about this. Would you consider making your next car an electric [or do you already own one]?

An article on the BBC 'Elbow frontman Guy Garvey says the way artists are paid for audio streams is "threatening the future of music". "That sounds very dramatic," he told MPs, "but if musicians can't afford to pay the rent... we haven't got tomorrow's music in place."' Link: Streaming payments are 'threatening the future of music' - BBC News

I see that Gary Numan has an autobiography out in a few days [in the UK at least]. I've never been especially fond of his stuff -- neither strongly liked or disliked it -- but I'll be interested to read whether he talks about his work with Bill, and perhaps the influence that led to it. Anyway, I thought I'd post about it for anyone interested... https://www.amazon.co.uk/R-evolution-Autobiography-Gary-Numan/dp/1472134621/ref=sr_1_1?crid=131ZZSS2X5VH1&dchild=1&keywords=gary+numan&qid=1603127027&s=books&sprefix=gary+numan%2Caps%2C274&sr=1-1

Currently reading The Magical History of Britain by Martin Wall -- enjoyable and enlightening.